Pregnant. Diagnosed with moderate left atrial enlargement and mild mitral regurgitation. What should I do?

Answered by

Question: im mid-forties and 22 weeks pregnant with first child and diagnosed with moderate left atrium enlargement and mild mitral regurgitation. i've also gained 30 lbs in the past 6 months and have gone from a high aerobic exercise routine to a occasional pilates classes (5 in past 6 months). only change in diet is heavy carbs, beef, and milk/cheese. Cardiologist didn't seem too worried but said i should come back for a heart sonogram and ekg in 10 months (50 6 months post natal). but this still sounds like a major warning sign.

is there anything that i can do to fix this problem.

Answered by Dr. Anil Grover 2 hours later

Hi,Thanks for writing in.I am a qualified and certified cardiologist. I have enough experience of fetal echocardiography to advice you the following.

What you have to to understand in fetus the de oxygenated blood from fetal limbs and brain and oxygenated blood mixes and forms the combined ventricular output which in some cases can lead to leakage of blood in left ventricular valve with left atrial enlargement (in fetus all 4 chambers 2 ventricles and atria are almost of the same size). After birth de oxygenated blood from limbs and brain of newly born goes to right ventricle and then to lungs (in fetus lungs are not active as fetus is dependent on mother for oxygenation) where it is oxygenated and through pulmonary veins into left ventricle. Thus instead of combined ventricular output ventricles handle half of the blood there is no admixture unlike that in fetus. So, like your cardiologist, you ought not to worry as in all probability everything will be fine. Incidentally, your gain of weight has got nothing to do with this type of 'defect' in fetal heart. Follow your obstetrician's advice. If you have any question for me I will be most happy to answer. Good Luck

i keep on getting really sharp pains in my chest and abdomen, and a numbing pain at the bottom of my back. I have had some tests done i.e. Kidney and Renal Tract, but nothing has showed up; when i was in hoospital in May I was diagnosed a heart murmur and possible punctured artery, but waiting on an echocardiogram. What could the unexplain pains be? (i have tried medicines such as ibuprofen, paracetmol, codine, dyclofenic sodium tablets, nuerofen - none of these have subsided the pains).

I had an echocardiogram when I was 7 1/2 months pregnant 18 months ago (after a heart murmur was detected). The results showed a minor abnormality but I could continue with my pregnancy and delived naturally. I was followed up a year later. The echo had shown a right atrial mass and thickening of the wall. I was sent for a further echo (1 year after the first) which the sonographer said showed my heart was normal. The cardio dept have said that the mass has greatly reduced and they are less concerned. However they were surprised about the results as they thought it was a structural defect. In addition, they have no clue what this mass could be. I am scheduled for a transoesphegal echo in a few weeks to see if there is any residue. I am petrified what this could mean. Will this mass grow back?

have been having episodes of hypertension and cardiac pain. I spent Tuesday night in the ER getting blood work done, including a hs-CRP test which came back elevated at 7.4 mg/dL. I had a troponin test done that came back as slightly elevated (0.9 ng/mL). I also had an EKG which showed tachycardia (resting heart rate up into the 160s) as well as episodes of a-fib, and an echocardiogram which showed my left atrium was significantly thickened/larger than expected for a normal twenty year old. I was admitted to the cardiac unit over night for observation and given nitroglycerin for the pain as well as medication for my blood pressure. The blood pressure levels regulated somewhat, going down to average of 138/95 at discharge. They gave me a preliminary diagnosis of angina which is shocking since I m 20, of normal weight, have a healthy diet, and normal cholesterol. I ve been referred to a cardiologist and am scheduled for a stress test on Monday. What should I expect? What will the stress test show? Also, what does a enlarged left atrium mean? Is it serious? thanks!

I have chronic a-fib, 24/7. It was previously controlled with different meds following a cardio version, but that is no longer effective. I now live at 60 of altitude in Houston, and take yearly trips, or more often, to New Mexico, Colorado and/or Wyoming, where I grew up. The altitudes vary from 8500 or 9000 to 7200 and down to about 6000 . I am a 73 yr old female, overweight and fairly sedentary due to exercise fatigue from the a-fib. I am contemplating a vacation of 2 weeks or less at an altitude of 7000 or 8000 . We would be making the ascent by automobile, and I don t anticipate any hiking or climbing. My blood pressure is well-controlled at about 120/70 but my heart rate is obviously erratic and usually rapid at 80-90. My question is whether this is something I can safely do? I had an echocardiogram, an ECG and a semiannual checkup with my cardiologist about 3 weeks ago.

My husband has had heart palpating and then he said that it goes up into his neck,he says that they often happen ,sometimes two or three times a week. Do you have an opinion about what could be happening. He says after it happens he says it makes...

My mother today morning felt like head was rotating and her vision for few seconds was blue. So went to doctor for check up she said that BP was high and asked to take ECG. I have attached the same. After seeing the ECG she asked me take a 2D...

All the information, content and live chat provided on the site is intended to be for informational purposes only, and not a substitute for professional or medical advice. You should always speak with your doctor before you follow anything that you read on this website. Any health question asked on this site will be visible to the people who browse this site. Hence, the user assumes the responsibility not to divulge any personally identifiable information in the question. Use of this site is subject to our Terms & Conditions